“...the first time a pilot experiences real weather should not be with paying passengers onboard, unwitting and unwilling guinea pigs.”

Source: Part of the argument put forth by Captain Sully Sullenberger who is contesting the President's nominee for FAA Administrator. Sullenberger, the pilot who saved 155 people by safely landing an A320 in the Hudson River, has come forward with his thoughts on Trump’s pick to head the FAA: “We all deserve better.” The nominee has made some highly questionable comments regarding pilot experience requirements.

FBI Warns ‘Airline Ecosystem’ of the Scattered Spider Group

The FBI is warning the aviation industry that an infamous cybercriminal group, known as Scattered Spider, may be out to get it. The hackers are allegedly tricking airlines’ IT support into giving them access to sensitive data. The group gained notoriety in 2023 after breaching MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment.

Mentone Airport to Host the 63rd Annual Gathering to Close Out July

The Popular Rotorcraft Association (PRA) is getting ready to host its 63rd annual convention, featuring flight skill competitions, games, and other community-based activities. The event will run from July 30 to August 2nd at Indiana’s Mentone Airport (C92).

Also: Netherlands Donates 18 F16s, 2 737s Collide On Ramp, E-7 Wedgetail Cut, AgEagle's 100th In S Korea

The Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act was introduced in the House by Representative Bob Onder (R-MO) and in the Senate by Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), to federally restrict the use of ADS-B flight tracking data for non-safety-related purposes. The bills prohibit the use of ADS-B to assess fees or initiate enforcement actions unrelated to safety. The National STOL Series suffered a devastating loss when the truck towing the event trailer was involved in an accident in Montana. The truck flipped, caught fire, and both truck and trailer were destroyed in the subsequent fire. Thankfully no one was injured but all the equipment used in putting on events was lost. Volocopter has resumed work towards the certification of its VoloCity eVTOL, this time under the guiding hand of Diamond Aircraft. The manufacturer filed for insolvency late last year before being

Horizontal Flights Kick Off Market Readiness Program

Joby Aviation announced its electric air taxi successfully completed a series of VTOL wingborne trial flights in Dubai, signaling the start of its commercial market readiness activities in the region. These flights will contribute to the advancement of Joby’s readiness ahead of its anticipated first passenger flights in 2026.

Also: Air Taxis May Be Close, AgEagle Sells 100th, VAI Likes Bedford, AURA AERO Cleans Up

Volocopter has resumed work towards the certification of its VoloCity eVTOL, this time under the guiding hand of Diamond Aircraft. The manufacturer filed for insolvency late last year before being saved in a $11 million deal this March. Volocopter had big plans: high-profile air show appearances, flashy partnerships with Honeywell and Mercedes-Benz, and a demo flight debut planned for the 2024 Paris Olympics... Swiss electric aircraft developer H55 completed over 50 demo flights in the Palo Alto stop of its Across America tour. The Bristell B23 Energic aircraft demonstrated the reliability of its electric propulsion system and the company said total purchase commitments garnered during the tour now account for the first two years of production. Searching through the debris of an assault on Ukraine led drone hunters to a startling discovery: Russia may be using

Funding To Promote Safety, Sustainability, Growth Of Industry

The National Business Aviation Association lauded the Senate vote to approve several pro-aviation elements included in the revised budget reconciliation bill, saying the provisions will promote the growth, safety, and sustainability of the U.S. aviation industry.

Also: Outlaw Prop 4 Mooney, Ready 4 Duty, Ukrainian F-16 Pilot Lost, Blue Origin Flt

On his journey to become the first pilot to land solo on all seven continents, 19-year-old Ethan Guo hit a legal roadblock. He was arrested for altering his flight plan and landing in Antarctica without notifying ATC. Guo is an instrument-rated private pilot, allegedly with more than 700 hours of flight time. Via his Cessna 182Q Skylane, registered N182WT, he has already managed to land in all 48 contiguous states and cross the Atlantic three times. Four Vietnam Airlines pilots have been suspended as the carrier investigates a recent ground collision between a Boeing 787 and an Airbus A321, at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi. There were no injuries, and the planes were quickly swapped out for flights to continue. The U.S. Senate passed the budget reconciliation bill, aka President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, that contains $12.5 billion for the modernization and

Also: DarkAero Update, Electric Aircraft Symposium, Updated Instructor Guide, OSH Homebuilts Celebrate

The long-awaited Sonex High Wing prototype has flown... the Sonex gang tells us that the flight took place on the evening of Monday, June 30 2025, and was piloted by Sonex Advisory Board member Joe Norris. Admittedly; the flight was a brief one due to a passenger-side door latch issue. However, all engine temperatures were reported to be in the green and the aircraft was reported to have handled as-expected with only slight rigging adjustments needed. High on Jim Campbell’s flight test list, leading into Oshkosh 2025, is the Blackshape Gabriel... a close cousin to the Blackshape Prime he tested some weeks ago... to very positive result. He came away with solid opinions of the craftsmanship, handling and overall performance of the Prime, as well as the general attitude of the company folks he worked with, to whom integrity seemed to be a prim

Also: Axiom 4 Mission, FedEx Retires 12 Aircraft, AI 171 Recorders, UAL-JetBlue Partnership

As we present this program, we have just 24 days to our biggest Oshkosh programming effort yet. We’ll have even more to say in the coming days, but please note that we’re bringing our biggest and best crew ever -- and will start the proceedings with a special edition of Airborne on the Friday before Airventure, emphasizing many of the innovations and exciting developments YOU can look forward to and where to find them. The National Championship Air Races (NCAR) has completed the first edition of their annual Pylon Racing Seminar (PRS) in its new home in Roswell, NM. The event was attended by NCAR leadership, volunteers and pilots looking to become race-certified ahead of the races in September. Participants received four days of instruction, race practice time, training and certifications allowing them to race with maximum competitiveness and saf